Kalanchoe plant named ‘Carmen’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Carmen’, characterized by its upright plant habit; medium-sized, dark green-colored leaves; red orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Variety denomination: ‘Carmen’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Carmen’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars with compact plant habit, attractive flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made in Hinnerup, Denmark, in July, 2000 of an unidentified proprietary seedling selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoe cultivar Pico, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark, in May, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings taken at Hinnerup, Denmark, by the Inventor, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Carmen’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Carmen’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Carmen’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Medium-sized, dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Red orange-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe are most similar to plants of the parents and differ primarily from plants of the parents in plant form and flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrated the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse natural light conditions on an overcast day at approximately noon in Hinnerup, Denmark.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Carmen’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Carmen’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in the photographs and for the following observations and measurements were grown in Hinnerup, Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse for about ten weeks after the start of short day/long night photoperiodic treatment with average temperatures of 20° C. Plants used in the description and photographs were not pinched. Unless otherwise specified, the leaf description represents leaves from a vegetative plant.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar ‘Carmen’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary seedling             selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar             Pico, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About two weeks.         -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and             well-branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright plant habit with numerous compound cymes;             freely flowering. Actual plant shape will depend on whether             or not plants are pinched (apical terminals removed).         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching (removal of             terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral             branch development.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 20 cm.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Size:             Leaf size is reduced after floral induction. Vegetative             plants: Length: About 11 cm. Width: About 7 cm. Reproductive             plants: Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape:             Oval. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate; undulate.             Aspect: Slightly concave. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous; leathery; succulent. Color: Developing foliage,             upper surface: 137B. Developing foliage, lower surface:             137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound             dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright             flowering stems. Freely flowering. Flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Winter to early spring; flower             initiation and development can be induced under short             day/long night conditions.         -   Time to flower.—In the summer with 20° C. growing             temperatures, about nine weeks of short day/long night             conditions are required to produce flowering plants. During             the winter with supplemental lighting and 20° C. growing             temperatures, about ten weeks of short day/long night             conditions are required to produce flowering plants. Time to             flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light             intensity.         -   Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at             the main axis and is followed by the opening of the terminal             flowers of the side branches of the inflorescence. About one             week after the first flower has opened, 50% of the remaining             flowers are open.         -   Post - production longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             maintain good leaf and flower substance for at least five             weeks under interior environmental conditions.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.         -   Quantity.—Freely flowering; primary cymes with about 25 to             40 flowers each.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1.5 cm.             Width: About 4 mm. Color: 26B to 32B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Four fused at base. Length:             About 9 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Round obovate.             Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; satiny. Color: Upper surface:             30A. Lower surface: 26C to 30B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: About eight.             Anther shape: Slightly oblong. Filament color: Yellowish             green. Pollen color: Yellow. Pistils: Pistil number: About             four. Style color: Green. Stigma shape: Round. Ovaries:             Superior and four-celled. Ovary size: About 6 mm by 1 mm.             Ovary color: Light green.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known pathogens and pests     common to Kalanchoe has not been observed on plants of the new     Kalanchoe grown under commercial greenhouse conditions. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Carmen’, as illustrated and described. 